The four-day show, which runs to Sunday, May 22, has consolidated its position as an international event with exhibitors from China, Taiwan, South Africa, Singapore, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, South Korea and the United States. Australian exhibitors come from around the country showcasing locally-manufactured boats and marine products as well as imports from around the globe.

“Visitors can see some fabulous displays at this year’s Show with close to 100 world and regional marine product and service launches plus hundreds of boats on water and through the Marine Village,” said Sanctuary Cove General Manager Marketing and Events Sue Thomson.

The Show features two large pavilions - the 5000sqm MarineBusiness-World.com pavilion plus the Superyacht Australia pavilion with exhibitors catering for this sector of the market.

Through the Marine Village streets there are trailerable boats and kayaks while roving musicians entertain the crowds daily.

Eye-catching displays include the 31.5m superyacht Black Pearl and the 37.1m Masteka 2.

Brisbane businessman Stefan Ackerie’s 25.7m vessel is sure to draw interest. Called Hairazor as an apt reference to his hair salon business, the boat is built by Stefan Racing. The catamaran, which weighs around 26 tonnes with a beam of 8.7m, offers dramatic fuel savings due to its light weight and the hull design which cuts the water rather than planing.

For the first time at a boat show, the Queensland Water Police 23.35m vessel the Brett T Handran is on display. There will be regular timed tours of this vessel which is used for training, exercises and counter terrorism and is deployed over a 200 nautical mile offshore zone along the Queensland coast.

“The 2011 Show has 30 world releases which indicates how important this event is to the marine industry,” said Ms Thomson. There are a further 69 Australian and Australasian boat, marine product or marine service releases. More than 140 accredited media will cover the event with journalists attending from the UK, the US, New Zealand, Japan, Thailand and Australia.

Initiatives added to the event program this year include daily Marine Queensland Boating and Fishing seminars which are included within the ticket price.

Visitors can also enjoy the Women on Water program which acknowledges the role of women in the marine industry. Elements include female skipper training, fashion parades and the booked-out High Tea on the High Seas.

On Friday, the Australian Marine Industry Breakfast features Monte Carlo Yachts Carla Demaria who will talk about New Trends and New Challenges for the Boating Industry. Boating Industry Alliance Australia Chairman Darren Vaux will also speak at this function.

An invitation-only Women on Water lunch on Friday has a guest panel including Carla Demaria, leading yachtswoman Adrienne Cahalan and Marine Queensland President Sharon Russell.

A wide range of interesting activities are offered daily and included within the Boat Show ticket price with cooking demonstrations by Club Marine’s Bart Beek; Channel Seven activities featuring Creek to Coast host Scott Hillier, Queensland Weekender host Dean Miller and presenter Sally Jenyns plus My Kitchen Rules contestants Mal and Bec on Saturday and Artie and Johnny on Sunday. There are live broadcasts by Classic Hits 4KQ and 92.5 Gold FM.

This year a new transport Park ‘n’ Ride option will make it even easier and more convenient to visit the Show. As in past years, visitors coming south of Sanctuary Cove can take Exit 66 from the M1 Motorway to Parklands in the Gold Coast and then take the upgraded luxury coach transfers to and from the Show. Visitors coming north of Sanctuary Cove can now take Exit 54 from the M1 Motorway to the Foxwell Road Exit and then travel to the Riviera factory car park via Shipper Drive and Waterway Drive. A regular half-hour ferry service will operate across to the Boat Show precinct. The Park ‘n’ Ride parking and transfers are included within the ticket price.

Other transport options include helicopter transfers, water ferries and taxis and a complementary shuttle transfer for train ticket holders from Helensvale station (transport options here additional to Show ticket).

As in past years, an International Business Lounge will operate to assist international buyers and businesses to network and make valuable contacts with Australian companies. This facility is provided through a partnership between the Queensland Government’s Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (DEEDI), Austrade, the Gold Coast City Council (Business GC), the Australian International Marine Export Group (AIMEX), Superyacht Australia, Superior Jetties and Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show.

Club Marine is a sponsor of Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show. Media partners include BoatPoint.com.au, Channel Seven, 4KQ, Trade a Boat and 92.5 Gold FM. Maritime Safety Queensland is a government supporter. Hawker Pacific and Barz Optics are supporters.

The $A2 billion Sanctuary Cove, located on the northern Gold Coast, is Australia’s leading and most successful master-planned community. Sanctuary Cove was acquired by current owners Mulpha Sanctuary Cove (Developments) Pty Limited in 2002. MSCD, an arm of Mulpha Australia Limited, which is a subsidiary of Malaysian listed Mulpha International BHD, has invested significantly in Sanctuary Cove over recent years, resulting in a major transformation designed to ensure the pre-eminent community remains at the forefront of master-planned living in Australia.